Golden Privacy Moments in Brussels

The EU Commission represented by Paul Nehmitz (to the right) and the US with Julie Brill from FTC discussed the state of play of cross border data flows between the two continents w so different views on privacy. According to Nehmitz the best of all worlds would be EU law (which is the best) and the US enforcement (which is the best)

Blog. CPDP2016 is over. The best conference in Europe on privacy and data ethics took place from Wednesday to Friday – 27th-29th – in Brussels. Below a few highlights, but most of the sessions will be shown here on Youtube – and there are much more on Twitter #cpdp2016. So many good people shared opinions, research papers and enthusiasm for our democratic rights such as the right to control one’s own data.

Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament: Digitisation brings undoubted benefits, but if we want to prevent becoming remote-controlled ‘data cows’ who live in a world ruled over by a handful of multinational companies. We cannot leave debating ‘internet issues’ to the nerds. It is a debate in which all must have their say.
– according to The Guardian

Anthony Walker, deputy CEO of techUK representing more than 850 tech companies said that the DPAs (Data Protection Agencies) have incredibly important roles helping companies understand and use the new data rules. Start-ups move fast. They can wait. DPAs need to understand their economic significance of their work. They must understand they have an economic responsibility for the digital growth in Europe. They should also play an educational role as well helping consumers understand more, so privacy will become a competitive advantage.
– at panel about Will the GPDR succeed in encouraging tech start-ups

Frank Pasquale, law professor; University of Mariland said that 81% of Americans do not want behavioral targeting. They feel they are being manipulated with.
– at panel about Political Behavioural Targeting

Gloria Gonzalez-Fuster, research professor at Vrije University Brussels: When people say ethics in a big corporation it is often about compliance of data protection. What is the difference between law and ethics: Law is the boring stuff without the spirit, ethics is the visions and the spirit. We all have the right to personal data protection. Ethics is not only about me but also others.
– at panel about Ethical Data Handling

Gemma Galdon Clavell, CEO of Eticas, Spain when pointing to examples of unethical practises: We see not only discrimination of blacks but also of young and old. Ethics is also about what society we want our children til live ind.
– at panel about Ethical Data Handling

Malte Spitz, a German Green Party politician, said that the wi-fi connected Hello Barbie is a perfect intelligence tool as it records everything in the room

Cathy O’Neil, computer scientist said that companies using algorithms that are widespread, opaque, destructive and have hig impact should be audited by third parties.
– at a panel about software tools for monitoring and enforcing privacy and data protection laws

Mike McCrory, SmartThings (owned by Samsung): Both government and companies have a responsibility, but so does the consumer. Parents buying a (wi-fi connected) Hello Barbie (who can chat with your kids) also need to understand what they do and the risks, they also have a responsibility.
– at panel about Toys that listen

Max Schrems, lawyer and privacy activist: This was never an anti-us case but anti-mass surveillance
– at a panel about Safe Harbour

Helge Veum, director of Norwegian Data Protection Authority: There are a lot of ethical questions here outside of our law enforcement, when we talk about data analytics. But I think big data analytics is regulated with the new data regulation. We expects to work with code of conducts as well, privacy-enhancing technologies in big data, and we also have other forms of regulations towards consumers. Then we need self-regulation, which we see a lot of in the press and in research for example.
– at a panel about Regulating Big Data Analytics